Ash-sifting device



F. H. LEHMAN.

ASH SIFTING DEVICE- APPLICATION man APR.6,1920.

Patented Deal 27, 1921.

2 snssfs-suzn 1.

F. H. LEHMAN.

ASH SIFTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION. FILED APR. 6. 1920 1,401,543 I Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

10 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 40 68 i Irwerdon fitness" 4 I 1/Lm4/l( f M 7. /M%MM\NM 15 while at the same time remaining capable of UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rm: 3. LEHMAN, or LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA.

ASH-summer DEVICE.

Application filed April 6,

Toall whom it may conceivi- Be it known that I, FRANK H. LEI-IMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Lebanon, county of Lebanon, and

naces; and thc invention has for its principalobject the production of an improved and novel sitter of this kind which may be employed in immediate conjunction with an ash can of the conventional cylindrical type, for deposition therein of the sifted ashes.

Another object of the invention is the production of an ash sifter of this type,

comprising a portable sifting element in the form of a bucket orcontainer wherein ashes may be conveniently deposited directly from the ash pit, and which may then, without danger of spilling the ashes, be carried to the ash can and there mounted over the can and used as a rotary sitter, thus obviating the dust, annoyance and inconvenience incident to pouring the ashes from a bucket into a separate and stationary sitter and again withdrawing the same therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an improved sifter of this kind, involving theuse of a rotary sifting element over an ash can, which requires no openings in the superposed hood or housing inclosing the sifter, either for the introduction of the ashesorthe withdrawal ofthe cinder-s, and

i which is, therefore, substantially dust proof,

Another object is to provide novel and improved means forquickly and easily mounting the sitting-element for rotary movement in thehood.

Another object is to'provide an improved detachable hinged connecting and supportinn member between 'the can and the hood, whereby the latter is enabled to be swung back and. supported in appropriate position to permit the convenient introduction and mounting of the sitting element therein,

being lifted and removed from the can without the necessity of disconnecting or undoing any of the parts. i

A further object of the invention isz to provide ImPI'OVMll rotary. means, In. connec- Specification otLetters Patent. Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 371,696.

tion with an ash sitter of this type which will produce an intermittent jarring or shocking movement, whereby to promote and facilitate the sifting process, and to arise the dislodgment of particles of dust which may settle on such parts as it may be necessary for the operator to touch or which he may otherwise come into contact with in the manipulation of the device, and thereby to clean the same.

l'Vith the above and other objects in View, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the application, similar clmracters oi reference indicate corresponding parts in. all the views.

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view ol an embodiment oi my invention,

showing the portable ash container mounted inv position for rotation in the hood.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the hood swung back at right angles to the can and with the ash container removed therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the hood.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hood shown as removed from the ash can.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 6 is an elevation 01 the preferred embodiment of the portable container; and Fig.7 is an elevation of a modified :torm oi the container. Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the preterred embodiment of my improved portable ash container and Sifter, which 18 constructed substantially in the form of a bucket open at the top and having side walls 2 preferably cylindrical in form, a bottom 3, and a bail 4t secured to the side walls in the ordinary manner by perforated ears 5. The side walls 2 differ from those of the ordinary bucket in that the same are made of foraminous or reticulated material, such as perforated sheet metal or wire mesh, and are thus adapted to function as a sitting medium when the de vice is mounted and operated in the manner hereinafter described. The bottom 3 of the container is made of imperforate material and is secured to the side walls at their lower edges asshown at 6, Fig. 6. Surrounding the side walls 2 are auxiliary Walls 7, preferably in the form of frusto-cone shaped shells, secured at tieir lower edges to the outer face of the side walls as at S, and diverging outwardly and upwardly toward the top of the container, the upper edges 9 of said auxiliary walls being thus spaced a substantial distance from the side walls 2. These auxiliary walls are also made of imperforate material, and thus form in effect auxiliary container means adapted to catch such particles of the'ashes as pass through the openings or meshes of the side walls 2. Ordinarily the container will be used as a receptacle for depositing and carrying ashes in the same manner as a common bucket, being either placed on the floor or ground in substantially vertical upright position or carried in such position by means of th bail a, and when so used, it will be apparent, that the auxiliary walls 7 will act to retain all ashes dropping therein through the side walls and will effectively protect the container against the scattering of ashes thereauxiliary wa from on the fioor. In practice it has been found that when the container is thus used as a receptacle, only a comparatively small portion of the ashes percolates through the side walls, even when the container en tirely filled and when it is subjected to severe jars and shocks such as migl'it tend to thoroughly settle the contents, and it has further been found that a series of two or more of such auxiliary walls, one'disposed above the other about the side walls, the lowermost having its lower edge adjacent the bottom 3, will most efiiciently meet the requirements of the invention, inasmuch as such an rangement admits of relatively wide divergence of the walls and thus tends to facilitate the ejection of the ashes when the container is used as a sifting element, without adding undue width thereto or render" the same bulky or inconvenient to handle. If have accordingly adopted this construction as the preferred form of the c ntainer, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, although it will be understood that a container having a single -l, as shown in the modif r.

form, Fig. 7, or one having a plurality of such walls, or walls of different contour z conformation, falls within the scope of invention as covered by the appended cl .This invention contemplates the employment of a portable container thusconstructed in the capacity of a rotary sieving element. for separating the ashes deposited therein by retaining the value. le uncon sumed portions thereof in the body of the container, and dropping and ejecting the finer consumed portions through the openings in the side walls; and the means preferably adopted for thus employing the'container comprise, a cylindrical hood 10 adapted to be removably seated on an ash can 15 of the conventional cylindrical type, said hood having imperforate side walls 11, and a closed top 12, and being internally provided with an inwardly extending peripheral flange 13 offset above its lower edge for engaging the upper edge 14 of the can, the joint between the hood and the can being thus made close and substantially dust proof. Journaled in a relatively wide and firm bearing, preferably in the form of a U shaped bracket 16 disposed within the hood adjacent one of the side walls thereof, and passing through suitable bearing openings in both of the legs 20 and 21 of said bracket, is a short shaft 17, which extends outwardly through an opening in the adjacent side wall coinciding with said bearing openings, and which is provided externally of the hood with a crank, 18, whereby it is adapted to be rotated. This shaft is held in operative position and secured against lateral displacement in the bearing by a collar 19 disposed thereon between the legs of the bracket and held in place by a pin 22. The shaft ex tends within the hood an appreciable dis tance beyond the bearing and carries at its inner end a coupling member 23 of appropriate form to engage a suitable cooperating coupling member 24:, provided in the bottom 3 of the ash container. Opposite the shaft within the hood and at a distance from the inner end thereof sufficient to permit the insertion of the container, is disposed a head or cover 25, preferably provided with a flanged rim 26 of slightly larger diameter than the container so as to freely receive the upper end portion thereof and thus act as a closure and support therefor. Said head is rotatively mounted on a pivot 27, which extends toward the shaft and is in axial alinement therewith, and said pivot is in turn carriedby an arm 28, hingedly depending from the top of the hood and arranged for radial movement in a vertical plane coinciding with the axis of the shaft. Thus, as will be seen, the head 25 is adapted to be swung to and fro and moved into and out of engagement with the container at the will of the operator, whereby when the container is longitudinally inserted between the shaft and the head, it may by a single movement of the latter be at once securely closed and operative-1y supported for rotary movement on a horizontal axis over the ash can.

Preferably the arm 28 is formed with an eye 31 at its upper end, and is secured to the top of the head by a bracket 30 having downwardly extending ears 29 spaced apart to receive the eye between them, a hinge pin 32 passing through the eye and extending through suitable perforations in the ears. For securely retaining the head in closed and supporting relationship with the container, a spring pressed detent 46 is provided, which is adapted to enter a suitable notch or recess 47 formed in the outer periphery of the eye 31,a similar notch or recess 48 being formed at another point on the eye to receive the detent and hold the head in its extreme remote oropen position. To obviate the necessity of havingany objectionable openings in the head wherethrough ashes from the containermight exude, the head is preferably mountted on the pivot by means of a dished hub 33, in the form of a boss centrally disposed to the outer face of the head, said hub having a central bearing opening for the reception of the pivot,and the pivot being operatively secured thereto by means of a horizontal cross pin 34 passing through the pivot and projecting from either side thereof within the hub. A sleeve 35, pinned to the pivot adjacent the hub, is provided to receive the thrust of the head and limit its lateral movement. With this construction, it will be noted, that by proper relative arrangement of the sleeve and cross pin and by making the opening in the hub of a diameter slightly larger than that of the pivot, the head 25 maybe given sufficient lateral and angular play to admit of its easy reception of the upper end of the container when moved into engagement therewith.

To avoid spilling the ashes, it is essential that the container, while being intro duced and mounted in the hood, be held and maintained in substantially upright vertical position and that suitable means be provided to enable the container to be introduced in this position. To meet this requirement, the hood is detachably hinged.

to the can, and a support is provided whereon the hood, when swung back on the hinge, is adapted to rest in a position sub stantially at right angles to the can, thus bringing the shaft 17 into vertical axial position with the head 25 vertically above the same. Preferably the hinge and sup port are rnadeintegraland are produced. from a single piece of rod material as 36,

" bent up into sultable shape to form, spaced hook members 37 adapted to be detachably received over. the upper edge of the can, horizontaltrunnion members 38 proceeding outwardly and oppositely from the shanks 39 of the hook members and passing through perforated ears 40 extending downwardly from the lower edge of the hood. anda bridge member 41, uniting said trunnion members and projecting outwardly to form the support. It will be observed that the hinge and support are thus carried by the hood and are unitary therewith, whereby the hood may be readily detached and removed from the can by simply lifting it vertically a slight distance above the upper edge of the can, as by means of the hand grip 42, and it is apparent that when the hood is thus removed, there is nothing to prevent or hinder the canbeing emptied and otherwise handled in the usual manner,

In the preferred embodiment of the device here shown, the coupling member 23 on the end of shaft 17 is made rectangular in cross section and is tapered rearwardly on the side facing the bearing and reversely tapered on its opposite or forward side. The coupling member 24, secured to the bottom of the container, is in the form of a rectangular box, (see Fig. 5), having a closed imperforate top wall 43, and imperforate side walls 44 of somewhat greater length than the sides of the coupling member 23, and the same is provided with a bottom wall 45 having a circular opening therein of appropriate size to freely receive the member 23. Thus, while the member 23, owing to its tapered character, will be readily received into the member 24, and

nace and there filled with ashes from the ash pit in the usual manner, the port-1011 of the ashes escaping through the side walls being. caught and retained by the auxiliary walls as hereinbefore explained. When thus filled the container may be taken up by the bail and carried to the ash can in the same manner as an ordinary bucket without danger of spilling or dropping the ashes on the floor. The hood 1O now swung back on the hinge until it rests 'on the support 41, when the container is introduced. therein and placed upright on the shaft, with the coupling member 23 in internal engagement with the coupling member 24. The head 25 is then drawn down into closed position over the mouth of the container, where it will be securely held by the detent 46 dropping into the notch 47. The hood is then returned to closed. position over the can, when the container be ng new in horizontal position may be rotated by the crank 18 to sift the ashes. As will be under stood, the rotation of the container causes the finer consumed portion of the ashes to .drop through the openings or meshes of the side. walls 2, whence the same falling upon the auxiliary walls 7, are, due to the inclination of the latter, ejected into the ash can below. Owing to the side walls 44 of the coupling member 24 being of greater length than the sides of the coupling member 23, it will be apparent that the rotary move mentof the container will be accompanied by intermittent jars or shocks due to the dropping of the adjacent walls of the memwill be left to stand undisturbed for a suflicient length of time to permit the dust to thoroughly settle, when the crank may again be given several rapid turns in order to clean the container by dislodging such particles of dust as may have accumulated thereon, whereupon the hood is again opened and the container with the reclaimed 'cinders therein removed.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment thereof hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it may be embodied in various other forms within the scope of the following claims.

The invention claimed is 1. An ash sieving device including a port able ash container in the form of a bucket having foraminous side walls, and outwardly and upwardly diverging protective means outwardly surrounding the side walls to prevent ashes which sift through the side walls from dropping from the container when the latter is in substantially vertical upright position, but adapted to permit such siftings to drop freely from the container arranged to eject the same therefrom when the container is disposed and rotated on a substantially horizontal axis.

2. In an ash sieving device, a portable ash containeropen at the top and having foraminous side walls and an imperforate bottom, said side walls being outwardly sur rounded by imperforate outwardly and upwardly diverging auxiliary walls spaced therefrom at the top and abutting said side walls at the bottom and adapted to cooperatewith the bottom and side walls for retaining ashes deposited in the container when the latter is in substantially vertical upright position, a removable cover for said container, and rotative supporting and coupling means for detachably mounting said container for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis.

f3. In an ash sieving device, a portable ash container in the form of a bucket being open at the top and having an imperforate bottom and foraminous side walls, said side walls being outwardly surrounded by imperforate frusto-cone shaped auxiliary walls abutting said side walls at the bottom and diverging upwardly toward the mouth of the container to form, auxiliary container means open at the top wherein particles of ashes passing through the side walls may be caught and retained when the container is in substantially vertical upright position and wherefrom the ashes may freely drop to be ejected when the container is disposed and rotated in substantially horizontal position, a removable cover for the said container, and rotative supporting and coupling means for detachably mounting said container for retation on a substantially horizontal axis.

4:. In an ash sieving device, a portable cylindrical ash container open at the top, and having f -aininous side walls and an imperforate flat bottom, imperforate frusto-cone shaped ash retaining walls outwardly surrounding the side walls and diverging upwardly and outwardly from the exterior face thereof and terminating below the mouth of the container, a bail secured to said container, and a removable cover to close the mouth thereof, and rotative supporting and coupling means for detachably mounting said container for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis 5. An ash receiving device including a portable cylindrical ash container open at the top and having foraininous side walls I and an. imperforate fiat bottom, and having a plurality of imperforute shell members surrounding the side walls, said shell members being spaced from the side walls at the top and secured thereto at the bottom and the upper edge of the uppermost of said shell members falling below the mouth of I the container.

6. In an ash sieving device. a portable, rotatable ash containing and sieving element, open at one end and closed at the other end, and means for detachably mounting said element for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis, said means comprising a rotatable shaft carrying a coupling member for detachably en aging the closed end of said element and imparting rotative movement thereto, and a detachable revoluble member for engaging and supporting the opposite end of said element.

7. In an ash sieving device, a portable rotatable ash containing and sieving element of substantially cylindrical fornusaid element being closed at one end and open at the other end, and means for detachably mounting and rotating said element on a substantially horizontal axis, said means comprising a rotatable shaft carrying a coupling member for supporting the closed end of said element and imparting rotative movement thereto, and a removable, revoluble, pivotally mounted cover for closing and supporting the open end f said element.

8. in an ash sieving device, a portable. rotatable ash containin and sieving element, said element being c osed at one end and open at the other end; and means for deenemas tachablymounting and rotating said element on a substantially horizontal axis, said means including a rotatable shaft carrying a coupoperatively disposed for longitudinal movement relative to the axis of said shaft, a

cover for said elementloosely mounted for rotary movement on said pivot and adapted to engage the open end of said element, and means for retainin said cover in open and closed positions W1tl1 relation to said element.

, a 9. In an ash sieving device, a portable rotatable ash containing and sieving element,

said element being closed at one end and open at the other end, and means for de- -tachably mounting and rotating said element on a substantially horizontal axis, said means including a rotatable shaft carrying a coupling member for detachably engaging and supporting the closed end of said ele ment and imparting rotative movement thereto, a pivot in axial alinement with said I shaft and hingedly suspended by an arm for longitudinal movement with relation to the axis of said shaft, a coverfor saidelement loosely mounted forrotary movement on said pivot andadapted to engage the open end of said element, and spring pressed detent means operative on said arm for retaining sald cover in open and closed positions with relation to said" element.

10. In an ash sieving device, a portable rotatable ash containing and sieving element,

said element being closed at one. end and open at theother end, and means for detachably mounting and rotating said ele ment on a substantially horizontal axis, said means comprising a short shaft journaled for rotary movement on a horizontal axis and provided at one end with a manually operable crank and carrying at the other end a coupling member adapted to enter and engage a cooperating coupling member carried by the closed end of said element, said first named coupling member being adapted to freely enter and loosely engage the side walls of said cooperating member toimpart rotary movement to said element, and said cooperating member having an inwardly extendingfiange at its outer end for preventing disconnection with the shaft when said element is in horizontal axial position, and a removable revolubly mounted cover for engaging and supporting the open end of said element.

11. In an ash sieving device, the co1nbination with an ash can open at the top of a rotatable ash containing and sieving element, and means for detachably mounting said element for rotation over the mouth of said can, said meansincluding a removable hood having side walls and a closed topand adapted to be seated on the upper edge of the can, a shaft journaled for horizontal axial rotation passing through a side wall of the hood and terminating therein, a coupling member carried by the interior end of said shaft and adapted for engagement with the closed end of said sieving element and a crank secured to the exterior end of said shaft, and a head member rotatively disposed within the hood for engaging and supporting the open end of said sieving element.

12. In anash sieving device, the combination with an ash can open at the top, of a rotatable ash containing and sieving element, and means for detachably mounting said element for rotation over the mouth of the can, said means including a hood having side walls and a closed top and adapted to be seated on the upper edge of the can, a bracket disposed within the hood adjacent one of the side walls thereof, a shaft jour- ,naled in said bracket and passing through the proximate side wall of the hood and terposite endof said sieving element.

13. In an ash sieving device, the combination'with an ash can openat the top, of a rotatable ash containing and sieving ele ment, and means for detachably mounting said element for rotation over the mouth of the can, saidmeans including a hood adapt ed to be seated on the upper edge of the can, said hood having side walls and a closed top, a -U shaped bracket disposed within the hood adjacent one of the side walls thereof, a short shaft journaled in said bracket and passing through the proximate side wall of the hood and terminating therein, a collar on said shaft between the legs of said bracket for preventing longitudinal displacement of the shaft, a crank for rotating the shaft externally of the hood, means carried by the inner end of the shaft for detachably and rotatively engaging one end of said sieving element, a brace diametrically disposed within the hood adjacent the top thereof, an arm hingedly suspended from said brace, a pivot carried by said arm extending toward said shaft and in axial alinement therewith, and a cover plate loosely and rotatably mounted on said pivot for engaging the opposite end of said sieving element.

14. In an ash sieving device, the combination with an ash can open at the top, of a hood adapted to cover the can having side walls and a closed top, an interior peripheral flange offset above the lower edge of the hood for engaging the upper edge of the can,means Within the hood for detachably and'rotatably mounting an ash containing and sieving element therein, and a hinged connection between the can and the hood whereby the latter may be swung upwardly and outwardly to a position which will admit of the insertion of the sieving element within the hood.

15. In an ash sieving device, the combination with an ash can open at the top, of a hood having a closed top and side walls for covering the can, an interior peripheral flange offset above the lower edge of the hood for engaging the upper edge of the can, means within the hood for detachably and rotatablymounting an ash containing and sieving'el'ement therein, a hinged connection between the can and the hood whereby the hood may be swung upwardly and outwardly to agiven position, and an outstanding arn ac'ljaeent said hinged connection for supporting and retaining the hood in such position; I Y W V I 16. In an ash sieving device, the combination .with an ashflean open at the top, of a hood adapted 'to'eoverthe can having side walls and avelo sed top, a peripheral flange adj aeent'the lower edge of the hood for engaging the upper edge of the can and sea ing the hoodthereon, a portable rotatable ash containing and sieving element adapted to be disposed and'carried in vertical up removable hood adapted to be seated on the upper edge thereof for covering the same, and detachable hinged connecting means between the can and the hood carried by the latter, said means comprising U shaped hook members adapted to be received over the upper edge of the can, outwardly and oppositely extending trunnion members proceeding from the shanks of said hook members, perforated ears depending from the lower edge of said hood through which said trunnion members pass, and a bridge 111cmber connecting said trunnion members.

18. In an ash sieving device of the character described, the combination with an ash can open at the top, of a hood adapted to be removably seated on the upper edge thereof for covering the same, and detachable hinged connecting and hood supporting means between the can and the hood;

said means being carried by the hood and comprising spaced inverted U shaped hook members adapted to be received over the upper edge of the can, outwardly and oppositely extending trunnion meml ers proceed ing horizontally from the shanks of said hood members, perforated ears depending from the lower edge of said hood through which said trunnion members pass, and a bridge member connecting said trunnion members and extending outward substantially at right angles to the axis of the can for supporting the hood when swung bachward on the trunnions.

19. In an ash sieving device, of the character described, the combination with a cylindrical ash can open at the top and a hood adapted to be removably seated on the up- .per edge ofthe can for covering the same, of a connecting and supporting element carried by the hood adjacent its lower edge for detachably hooking and hinging the hood to the upper edge of the can and for supporting the hood when swung back at right angles to the can, said element being bent up of one continuous piece of rod material.

in testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

FRANK H. LEMMA N. 

